Personal profile

Research interests

My research interests steam from the use of exercise to improve health. My background is in Sport and Exercise Science, and I have worked in a variety of clinical and elite settings.

I am interested in how Bone responds to mechanical stress, with a view to improve bone health via exercise interventions. This includes both traditional impact exercise, which is very good for bone, and trying to utilise High-intensity Interval Training to improve bone health.

While examining how bone responds to mechanical load, I am also interested in the use of biochemical markers of bone turnover, and how these measures related to traditional x-ray measures of bone health. I am keen to examine how these measures correlate, with the view to developing more accurate screening tools for Osteoporosis.

I am also examining how participant adherence and enjoyment of exercise can be altered in order to improve how participants complete high-intensity exercise training programmes.

Approach to teaching

I currently teach a wide range of material within the school, at a variety of levels on a number of different degree schemes. I very much believe in a research-centered approach, trying to challenge students with the most up-to-date research literature, examining problems/areas that are new and exciting.

I also like to try and engage students with learning outside of the lecture theatre or lab setting, by using a variety of interactive media such as Twitter and YouTube, to encourage students to think in different ways about material covered in class. I also want to try to encourage students to think about the research literature beyond what might be directly relevant to their assignments.

Scholarly biography

I completed my undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Heriot-Watt University in 2008, and during this time I gained experience working in both an applied, as an Assistant Fitness Coach for the Scottish Rugby Union before the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and research setting through my final year project. This developed into wanting to work in academia, after a brief dalliance with the idea of working in Medicine.

After graduating, I was fortunate enough to work for the England and Wales Cricket Board, a relationship that exists to this day, training a new generation of Young Cricket Officials. This then developed in to overseeing all Umpire and Scorer training across England and Wales. During this time, I also worked with the England Team during the 2009 World T20.

I left the ECB in January 2010 to start my PhD examining the effects of exercise and creatine supplementation on bone density, metabolism and body composition in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at Aberystwyth University. Initially only part funded, I paid my way by acting as a Teaching Assistant, as well as a Liason Officer for International Cricket Teams while they were touring the UK, spending time with the Indian “A” team and the Sri-Lanka National Team.

Following the completion of my PhD in 2014, I started working for the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences as a Lecturer in Human Physiology, teaching on the Biomedical Science, Biological Sciences and Biology (Hastings) degree schemes. In 2016 I became a Senior Lecturer in the school.

Education/Academic qualification

PhD, Aberystwyth University

4 Jan 2010 → 31 Dec 2013

Bachelor, Heriot-Watt University

1 Oct 2004 → 1 Jul 2008

External positions

Steering Group Member

1 Sep 2015 → …

Keywords

QP Physiology

Bone

Exercise

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